JP2021072504A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a remote control device that can exclude operation settings and special settings with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A remote handling equipment A includes an operation unit 2 that can be operated by a user, a display unit 1 that can switch screens, a control unit 40 that outputs a transmission instruction on the basis of operation information from the operation unit 2, a transmission unit 50 that can transmit operation settings and special settings exclusive to the operation settings on the basis of transmission instruction, and a storage unit 41 that stores screen data and program data, and the storage unit 41 stores pieces of program data 11a to 11f prepared for the respective screens and transmission restriction program data 13 that invalidates the operation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless remote control device for remotely controlling a device.

Some conventional remote control devices are equipped with an output circuit (transmission means) for wireless communication such as infrared signals and can operate the target device, but in addition to heating, cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation, details such as air volume and direction are also available. Due to settings and multi-functionalization, all functions cannot be displayed, and multiple types of screens are prepared, and there are some that can be set for various operations by switching screens (screen transitions).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-252336

However, the remote control device needs to transmit the special settings that cause the target device to perform special operations and settings exclusively from the normal operation settings.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned problems and to provide a remote control device capable of exclusive operation setting and special setting with a simple configuration.

The remote control device of the present invention
An operation unit that can be operated by the user
A display that can switch screens and
A control unit that outputs transmission instructions based on operation information from the operation unit, and
A transmitter capable of transmitting operation settings and special settings exclusive to the operation settings based on the transmission instruction,
A storage unit that stores screen data and program data,
It is a remote control device equipped with
The storage unit stores the program data prepared for each screen and the transmission restriction program data that invalidates the operation information.

The present invention provides a remote control device capable of exclusive operation settings and special settings with a simple configuration.

It is the schematic of the remote control device by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the remote control device in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen transition of the processing state in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the division of the data storage area of the storage part in the same embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in the special transmission | transmission screen of the remote control device in the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the remote control device of the present invention, an embodiment applied to a remote control device for an air conditioner will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner B to be operated by the remote control device A is configured by connecting the indoor unit C and the outdoor unit D with a connection pipe E, and operates for desired cooling, heating, and dehumidification. The room temperature and the like are adjusted accordingly. The indoor unit C has a heat exchanger, a blower fan, a receiving circuit, and the like built in the front panel C1. Further, the front panel C1 of the indoor unit C is provided with a receiving circuit C3 for wireless communication with the remote control device A and a display unit C4 for displaying the operating state next to the air outlet C2. There is.

The indoor unit C uses the receiving circuit and the microcomputer mounted on the internal control board to control the drive such as the wind direction of the blower fan and the outlet C2 and the outdoor unit having a heat exchanger according to the signal from the remote control device A. Communicate with machine D. The outdoor unit D can operate the built-in heat exchanger according to the communication with the indoor unit C, and can perform an air-conditioning operation of the temperature and humidity in the room together with the action of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit C.

The remote control device A includes a display unit (display panel) 1 using a liquid crystal display element, an operation unit (operation button) 2, and a housing (case) 3 for holding the display unit (operation button) 2. The user of the air conditioner B operates while holding the case 3 at hand and checking the operation switching, the desired temperature, the air volume, etc., while checking the setting state of the air conditioner B displayed on the display panel 1. The button 2 can be pressed with a fingertip. Further, the remote control device A is provided with wireless communication means, and can transmit a signal based on the pressing operation to the reception circuit C3 of the indoor unit C.
The indoor unit C accepts setting changes such as cooling, heating, and dehumidifying operation switching and setting changes such as temperature and air volume from the remote control device A, and filter cleaning and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) settings from the remote control device A. Accept by special setting of.

Next, the remote control device A will be described.

The remote control device A includes a display panel 1, an operation button 2, a case 3, a circuit board and a battery (not shown) in the case 3.

The display panel 1 is held so as to be visible from the opening window 31 of the case 3, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) can be applied. The display panel 1 is driven and controlled by a control signal from a control circuit (control unit 40 described later) mounted on the circuit board, and is based on the operation of the operation button 2 and has an operating state and an air conditioner B to be communicated. The setting status, room temperature, current temperature, time, etc. can be displayed. The display panel 1 is electrically connected to the circuit board by using an anisotropic conductive member, flexible wiring, or the like.

The operation button 2 switches the energized state of the switch (contact) mounted on the circuit board by the user pressing it with a fingertip. In this case, synthetic rubber or silicon rubber can be applied, and the material and shape can be applied. The shape is such that a convex portion having a conductive material facing the contact point is provided on the electrically insulating sheet that can be elastically deformed by the above. The contact and the operation button 2 form an operation unit.

This convex portion faces each contact of the circuit board and comes into contact with the target contact during a pressing operation from the outside, so that an energization signal (operation information) can be output to the control circuit. Further, when the fingertip is separated from the operation button 2, the contact can be returned to the disconnected (non-energized) state by returning the shape of the synthetic rubber. In this case, the structure is such that a plurality of contacts made of a copper foil pattern facing the operation button 2 are provided for the switch, but a switch element such as a tact switch having a return function is mounted on the circuit board instead. It is also possible to do it.

The operation button 2 has a normal operation unit 21 that outputs operation information by combining a plurality of operations, and a direct input unit 22 that immediately outputs operation settings by pressing a single button.
The normal operation unit 21 is composed of, for example, a MENU button for displaying a menu screen, an arrow button for operating and selecting a menu screen, and an OK button for indicating a decision.
In the direct input unit 22, for example, a button showing a cooling function with a picture imitating an ice crystal, a button showing a dehumidifying function with a picture imitating a water drop, and a picture imitating the sun are drawn. It is composed of buttons indicating the heating function. When any of these buttons is pressed, the direct input unit 22 outputs operation information for enabling the function regardless of the displayed screen.
A part of the normal operation unit 21 may function as a direct input unit 22 according to the displayed screen. For example, the operation information of changing the temperature setting is output by pressing the up arrow button or the down arrow button. You may.

In the case 3, a space for accommodating components such as a circuit board and a battery accommodating portion is formed inside by assembling a plurality of components made of a synthetic resin material.

The case 3 has a plurality of opening windows 31 facing the display panel 1 and the operation button 2, and the display panel 1 and the operation button 2 can be positioned by the edge portion of the opening window 31. Further, the case 3 is held so as to sandwich the display panel 1 and the operation button 2. The circuit board is fixed to the case 3 with screws (not shown).

A translucent portion 32 made of a translucent synthetic resin material capable of transmitting infrared rays is provided on the back side and the side surface side of the display panel 1, and in this case, the translucent portion 32 is a transparent material with a dark pigment. It is a so-called smoke member that is resin-molded after being mixed with light, and is press-fitted into the case on the back side. The case on the back side is provided with a through hole facing the inside of the case 3 so that the battery can be attached and detached, has an engaging portion by a hook so as to cover and close the through hole, and is provided with a detachable lid.

As the circuit board, a hard printed circuit board having a copper foil pattern formed on a base material using paper phenol, glass epoxy resin, etc. can be applied, and the control unit 40, which will be described later, and electronic components such as light emitting diodes, capacitors, and resistance elements. , A contact for a switch, and a wiring pattern for connecting these are provided. Further, the circuit board can supply electric power from the battery to electronic components such as the control unit 40 and the light emitting diode via the contact terminal and the wiring pattern.

In this case, infrared light is applied as a means of communication with the air conditioner B, and a signal identifiable by a standardized light emission pattern consisting of lighting / extinguishing of a light emitting diode serving as a transmission unit 50 described later is exchanged. However, in addition to this, for example, a transmission unit and a reception unit including a transmission / reception antenna and a transmission / reception circuit are prepared for each of the remote control device A and the air conditioner B, and replaced with communication means using short-range wireless communication. You can also do it.

Next, the configuration related to the control process for remotely controlling the air conditioner B will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation unit 2 outputs operation information based on the pressing operation of the user to the control unit 40. It is also conceivable that the touch panel is laminated on the surface of the display panel 1 to serve as an operation unit.

The control unit 40 includes, for example, a CPU to which a microcomputer can be applied and performs arithmetic processing, and a storage unit 41 for storing program data, image data, arithmetic results, and the like for the arithmetic processing. A RAM or ROM can be applied to the storage unit 41. The control unit 40 is mounted on a circuit board and is connected to an operation unit 2, a display panel 1, and a transmission unit 50. The control unit 40 performs arithmetic processing according to the operation information from the operation unit 2 and the program data stored in the storage unit 41, and controls the display panel 1 and the transmission unit 50.

The display panel 1 can generate and output a display screen based on the control signal from the control unit 40. The control unit 40 repeatedly executes drawing processing for displaying on the display panel 1 based on the program data 11a to 11f and the image data 12a to 12f for each screen stored in the storage unit 41, and the operation unit 40. Wait for the operation information from 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 40 performs drawing processing from the program data 11a for the normal screen 10a and the image data 12a related to this screen, and displays a display for displaying the current set value and the like. The screen data can be drawn and output to the display panel 1.

The transmission unit 50 can apply a light emitting diode that emits infrared light, switches on / off based on a transmission instruction from the control unit 40, and transmits operation settings and special settings to the air conditioner B.
The control unit 40 is controlled by the transmission restriction program data 13 stored in the storage unit 41 so as not to give the transmission instruction of the operation setting for a predetermined time when the transmission instruction of the operation setting and the special setting exclusive to the operation setting is given.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 41 is divided into a program data storage area 41a and an image data storage area 41b, and further, program data 11a to 11f for each screen 10a to 10f, transmission restriction program data 13, and an image. The data 12a to 12f are partitioned and stored separately. The control unit 40 reads out these data, and performs display control of the display panel 1 and communication control of the transmission unit 50. The storage unit 41 may further include a predetermined storage area 41c for temporarily storing work data and information.

Next, the screen transition by the arithmetic processing of the control unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, for example, the normal screen 10a is a home screen, the normal screen 10b is a menu screen, and the normal screens 10c and 10d are screens of each function of the air conditioner B arranged below the menu screen. The normal screen 10e is a detailed setting screen arranged below the normal screen 10d.

After the power is turned on, the control unit 40 reads out the program data 11a of the storage unit 41 that controls the display to display the normal screen 10a, and data consisting of image information necessary for drawing processing based on the program data 11a. Is read from the section of the image data 12a of the storage unit 41 and drawing processing is performed. Further, while the normal screen 10a is being displayed, the control unit 40 also displays a part of the current setting status (status information) of the current air conditioner B such as the set temperature and the operation mode, the time, and the like, as shown in FIG. The display panel 1 can be controlled so as to be displayed while using the work data in the predetermined storage area 41c of the storage unit 41.

During the display of the normal screen 10a, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the operation button 2 is operated in the arithmetic processing by the program data 11a based on the operation information, updates the display of the normal screen 10a, or displays the normal screen 10b. The operation is switched to the program data 11b so that the screen is changed.

Further, when the operation information of the operation button 2 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, when the OK button is pressed) in the arithmetic processing by the program data 11a while the normal screen 10a is displayed, the control unit 40 Outputs the operation setting transmission instruction.
Further, while the normal screens 10a to 10e are being displayed, the control unit 40 outputs an operation setting transmission instruction based on the operation information by pressing the input unit 22 directly, and transitions to the normal screen 10a.

The control unit 40 transitions to the special setting transmitting screen 10f based on the operation information on a specific screen (for example, the normal screens 10d and 10e), and outputs a special setting transmission instruction in the arithmetic processing by the program data 11f. Then, the operation information from the operation unit 2 is restricted by the transmission restriction program data 13.
The control on the screen 10f during transmission of the special setting of the remote control device A will be described later.

The transmission restriction program data 13 is stored in the storage unit 41 separately from the program data 11a to 11f prepared for each screen. Therefore, it is not necessary to duplicate the transmission restriction program data 13 on each of the program data 11d and 11e of the normal screens 10d and 10e, so that the storage area can be reduced.
Further, the control unit 40 can consolidate the screens for restricting the operation information from the operation unit 2 on the special setting transmission screen 10f by reading the transmission restriction program data 13 on the special setting transmission screen 10f.
The number of normal screens that transition to the special setting transmitting screen 10f may be three or more, and the more normal screens that transition to the special setting transmitting screen 10f, the greater the amount of reduction in the storage area.

See FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control of the remote control device A on the special setting transmitting screen 10f. The control unit 40 of the remote control device A reads out the program data 11f and the transmission restriction program data 13 on the special setting transmission in progress screen 10f.

In step S1, the control unit 40 starts the timer for the first predetermined time.

In step S2, the control unit 40 starts a timer for a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time. In the control unit 40, the transmission restriction program data 13 invalidates the operation information from the operation unit 2 during the second predetermined time. As a result, the remote control device A can reliably transmit the special setting without receiving the operation information by pressing the direct input unit 22 of the operation unit 2 by the transmission restriction program data 13 during the second predetermined time. .. The second predetermined time is the time required to exclude the special setting and the operation setting, and is appropriately set according to the type of the special setting and the target device.

In step S3, the control unit 40 controls the transmission unit 50 so as to start the transmission of the special setting.

In step S4, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the operation information from the direct input unit 22 of the operation unit 2 has been received. If it is accepted (in the case of Yes), the process proceeds to step S5, and if it is not accepted (in the case of No), the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S5, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the second predetermined time has elapsed. If it has passed (in the case of Yes), the process proceeds to step S7, and if it has not passed (in the case of No), the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the control unit 40 determines whether the first predetermined time has elapsed. If it has passed (in the case of Yes), the process proceeds to step S8, and if it has not passed (in the case of No), the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S7, the control unit 40 gives an instruction to transmit the operation setting based on the operation information directly from the input unit 22. As a result, even if the remote control device A is displaying the special setting transmitting screen 10f, after the second predetermined time (time required for exclusion) elapses, the user switches the special setting transmitting screen 10f. It is possible to give an instruction to send operation settings without waiting for.

In step S8, the control unit 40 transitions to the normal screen 10a. The control unit 40 stores the displayed screen information in the predetermined storage area 41c of the storage unit 41 before the screen transitions to the screen transition to the special setting transmission screen 10f, and is usually based on this screen information. It is also possible to return to the screens 10d to 10e. In this case, the effect of reducing the number of operations can be expected because the screen transition does not go through the normal screen 10a or the normal screen 10b.

The above-described embodiment has the following effects.

The remote control device A is
Operation unit 2 that can be operated by the user
Display unit 1 with switchable screen and
A control unit 40 that outputs a transmission instruction based on operation information from the operation unit 2 and
A transmitter 50 capable of transmitting an operation setting and a special setting exclusive to the operation setting based on the transmission instruction,
A storage unit 41 that stores screen data and program data,
It is a remote control device equipped with
The storage unit 41 stores the program data 11a to 11f prepared for each screen and the transmission restriction program data 13 that invalidates the operation information.

The remote control device A stores the transmission restriction program data 13 in the storage unit 41 separately from the program data 11a to 11f prepared for each screen, so that the program data 11d and 11e of the normal screens 10d and 10e can be stored, respectively. Since it is not necessary to duplicate the transmission restriction program data 13, the storage area can be reduced.

In the remote control device A
The control unit 40 controls the display unit 1 so as to make a screen transition to the special setting transmitting screen 10f when the transmission instruction of the special setting is output.
By reading the transmission restriction program data 13 on the special setting transmission screen 10f, the transmission instruction of the operation setting is restricted.

In the remote control device A, the control unit 40 reads out the transmission restriction program data 13 on the special setting transmitting screen 10f, so that the screens for restricting the operation information from the operation unit 2 are aggregated on the special setting transmitting screen 10f. Can be done.

In the remote control device A
The operation unit 2 further includes a direct input unit 22.
The direct input unit 22 can output the operation information that causes the control unit 40 to output the transmission instruction of the operation setting.
The control unit 40 has a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time on the special setting transmitting screen 10f.
During the first predetermined time, the special setting transmitting screen 10f is displayed, and during the second predetermined time, the transmission restriction program data 13 invalidates the operation information.

During the second predetermined time, the remote control device A does not accept the operation information due to the pressing of the direct input unit 22 of the operation unit 2 by the transmission restriction program data 13, and can reliably transmit the special setting.

In the remote control device A
When the control unit 40 outputs the transmission instruction of the operation setting during the first predetermined time after the second predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 40 outputs the transmission instruction of the operation setting.
The transmission unit 50 is controlled so as to transmit the operation setting, and the display unit 1 is controlled so as to make a screen transition from the special setting transmitting screen 10f to the normal screen 10a.

Even if the remote control device A is displaying the special setting transmitting screen 10f, after the second predetermined time elapses, the remote control device A transmits the operation setting without waiting for the user to switch the special setting transmitting screen 10f. Can give instructions.

Regarding the above-mentioned remote control device A, a remote control device that the user grips and operates is given as an example, but it may be applied to a stationary remote control device.

Although the remote control device of the present invention has been described by way of examples in the structure of the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other structures also deviate from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it is possible to make various improvements and change the display within the range that does not apply.

The present invention relates to a remote control device operated by a user, and is suitable as a wireless remote control means for a device such as an air conditioner or a television.

1 Display (display panel)
2 Operation unit (operation button)
21 Normal operation unit 22 Direct input unit 3 Housing (case)
40 Control unit 41 Storage unit 50 Transmission unit 10a to 10e Normal screen 10f Special setting transmitting screen 11a to 11f Program data 13 Transmission restriction program data A Remote control device B Air conditioner

Claims (4)

An operation unit that can be operated by the user
A display that can switch screens and
A control unit that outputs transmission instructions based on operation information from the operation unit, and
A transmitter capable of transmitting operation settings and special settings exclusive to the operation settings based on the transmission instruction,
A storage unit that stores screen data and program data,
It is a remote control device equipped with
The storage unit stores the program data prepared for each screen and the transmission restriction program data that invalidates the operation information.
Remote control device. The control unit controls the display unit so as to make a screen transition to the screen during transmission of the special setting when the transmission instruction of the special setting is output.
By reading the transmission restriction program data on the special setting transmission in progress screen, the transmission instruction of the operation setting is restricted.
The remote control device according to claim 1. The operation unit further has a direct input unit.
The direct input unit can output the operation information that causes the control unit to output the transmission instruction of the operation setting.
The control unit has a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time on the special setting transmitting screen.
During the first predetermined time, the special setting transmitting screen is displayed, and during the second predetermined time, the transmission restriction program data invalidates the operation information.
The remote control device according to claim 2. When the control unit outputs the transmission instruction of the operation setting during the first predetermined time after the lapse of the second predetermined time, the control unit outputs the transmission instruction of the operation setting.
The transmitter is controlled so as to transmit the operation settings, and the display unit is controlled so as to transition the screen from the screen during transmission of the special settings to the normal screen.
The remote control device according to claim 3.

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